Collector

On Galley Street, I stood on Great Granny’s back porch, the Appalachian mountains peering over my shoulder as I watched the North Fork of the KY roil and churn brown waters foaming in their haste to round the bend Debris, Great Granny said, (pronouncing the “s”) floats down the middle when the river’s on the…

Recently, while waiting in line at a restaurant, my husband and I overheard some teenagers talking about a friend of theirs who was “so chalant” about something or other. They weren’t talking very loudly, so I didn’t catch it all. My husband and I gave one another knowing smiles, and I even whispered, “Well…that should…

I was a walker to and from school in Walkertownand, though I wasn’t one to brag, I thought the town belonged to me…or at least the little stretch from my yellow house,on the corner of Pear and Spring,to the red brick elementary school on School Street.Each morning, after breakfast, I leapt flat-footedfrom our front porch stoop, my belly full of cream…

January 1, 2020, four days before my 50th birthday, my husband and I plunged into the Atlantic Ocean. The shock of the icy water was as surprising as the path that led us there. For Christmas the previous week, I gave my husband tickets to the Belk Bowl. Our University of Kentucky Wildcats would be…

Porcelain Elvis posed the problem with his seventy-five dollar price tag, while 5-year-old Will had only seven dollars for souvenirs. Porcelain Elvis, safely behind glass in the gift shop. “He’s not an action figure,” we said. “I won’t leave without him,” Will warned. We begged, “Please don’t throw a fit…” We faced off with our…

busy day yesterday sleepless night night before early rise appointment bloodwork drawn prescription filled again hurry home scarf down lunch offer treats get the dog in the car to groomer’s at the mall return shorts hem unfurled return dress looked frumpy return pants too wrinkly hair salon cold water “So sorry.” “It’s okay.” scalp frozen…